POLICE are investigating a report of suspected fumigation reported to have occurred at Buyantanshi Technical School (BUTECH) which has affected about 136 pupils.
Police have described the condition of the victims as stable but the total number is expected to increase as some pupils were still being taken to Hospital from homes after leaving school.
In a statement, Tuesday, police spokesperson Esther Katongo said the affected pupils were reported to have developed coughs while others had collapsed and were rushed to Nchanga North Mine Hospital.
She said management at the school had reported that they picked a bottle labeled “Blue Blue Perfume” containing unknown liquid believed to have been thrown in a bin by an unknown person.
“As Zambia Police, we are investigating a report of suspected fumigation reported to have occurred at Buyantanshi Technical School (BUTECH) around 08:20 hours today, 28th September, 2021. The affected pupils are reported to have developed coughs while others had collapsed and were rushed to Nchanga North Mine Hospital. Police rushed to the scene and were informed by management that those affected were pupils in a grade eight class while other victims were those who went to the affected class to check on what was happening,” Katongo said.
“It was later reported by management at the school that they had picked a bottle labeled “Blue Blue Perfume” containing unknown liquid believed to have been thrown in a bin by an unknown person and was handed to the police. The total number of pupils reported to have been affected is 136 and is expected to increase as some pupils were still being taken to Hospital from homes after leaving school. All the victims complained of headache, chest pains, and difficulty in breathing and cough. The condition of the victims has been described as stable and no death has been recorded. The bottle with unknown content will be taken to Food and Drug Laboratory for analysis. We appeal to members of the public to remain calm and allow investigations to be concluded.”
